Goričko (695)
Slovenia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Goričko
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.7833, Longitude: 16.1667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 174 to 416
Area of KBA (km2): 408.51678
Protected area coverage (%): 97.59
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Gorièko is in the north-easternmost part of Slovenia, on the border with Austria and Hungary. It is a mainly hilly region of Eocene sandstone, traversed by numerous streams, and with lower and flatter land in the eastern part where riverine vegetation and wet meadows are present. In summer the area is very dry. The soil in the east is not fertile, so farming is non-intensive, but is much more fertile in the west, where orchards, vineyards, dry grasslands and small cultivated fields are the main land-uses. Small settlements are common. The area is economically less developed and therefore habitats and wildlife remain in good condition.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: The traditionally managed habitats support important numbers of several SPECs, as well as many more in less significant numbers, e.g. Coracias garrulus, Lanius minor, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, some of which may meet IBA criteria once quantitative surveys have been made.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (40%) | forestry (30%) | urban/industrial/transport (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 30 | |
| Forest | 15 | |
| Shrubland | 10 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 15 | |
| Grassland | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threat is the abandonment of traditional, non-intensive agricultural land-use, which may lead to a decline in numbers of some birds, as would any intensification of farming (e.g. use of pesticides, drainage, and renovation of old orchards). The fauna and flora have not been surveyed in detail, and intensive field surveys are needed to provide quantitative and qualitative bird population data. The non-intensive farming seems of great importance in conserving old varieties of fruit trees and nationally threatened arable weeds.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |